Liverpool fall into Crystal Palace trap

This Sunday, they were surprised by an amazing Crystal team which perfectly exploited the depth, managing to find relays behind the same three midfielders aligned by Klopp: Jones-Endo-Mc Allister. Enough to fuel a formidable trio of attackers (Olise, Mateta, Eze) who combined brilliantly to endanger Alisson on several occasions. And score, within an apathetic defense, the first goal in the 14th minute, Mitchell easily finding Eze behind at the entrance to the area (0-1).

Wrong discrete

The afternoon could have resembled the European evening against Bergamo if Robertson had not saved his team from a desperate tackle on his line after Mateta deceived Alisson with a dive ball. The Crystal Palace center forward took advantage of a slip from Van Dijk, a slip eerily resembling that of Steven Gerrard on April 27, 2014, the terrible year of the title loss.

If Klopp’s players did not come back to score, it was because they came across a goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, in a state of grace and author of a first left arm reflex tap to deflect an acrobatic scissor from Nunez ( 29th).

But also because the Liverpool attackers showed quite phenomenal clumsiness with misses from Jones, alone in front of the goal (75th), from Jota, blocked in front of his line by Clyne (73rd), or even from Nunez, whose the recovery was diverted by the right knee of Henderson (55th). Elliott’s head was again pushed back by the right hand of the Palace goalkeeper (86th). Finally, Mitchell repelled a final try from Salah in front of his line (90th+1).

It was the fourteenth time that Liverpool had conceded a goal at home this season and the pain had to be resolved one day. Six days before the end of the Premier League, this is an important turning point following the great success of the Citizens against Luton (5-1) and while waiting for Arsenal-Aston Villa (5:30 p.m.). Manchester players provisionally occupy the lead in the standings with 73 points, two ahead of Arsenal and Liverpool.

West Ham surprised by Fulham

It must be said that the Reds were not really able to count on their top scorer, Mohamed Salah, who was still very discreet, with the exception of one of his rare accelerations on the right side followed by a brushed shot with his right foot, deflected by Henderson (34th). The Mersey players put terrible pressure on set pieces. Klopp also called on Dominik Szoboszlai from the break, replacing Endo. But none of his players managed to deceive the Palace defense, protected by the composure of former Lyon player Joachim Andersen.

Note that in the London derby, West Ham was surprised at home (0-2) by Fulham thanks to a double from Brazilian midfielder Andreas Pereira (9th, 72nd). Much more concerned about its return match to be played this Thursday against Leverkusen in the Europa League (2-0 defeat in the first leg), with the ambition of being the first team to bring down Xabi Alonso’s troop this season, West Ham remains 8th, two points behind Manchester United. Fulham moved up to 12th place with 42 points.